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New reviews coming soon! I'll be importing my work from the past two years, but in the meantime,
I'm reclaiming my small place on the web.

Monday, June 19, 2000

Children's Book Review

Spread Your Wings and Fly: An Origami Fold-And-Tell
by Mary Chloe Schoolcraft Saunders, and Carla McGregor Mihelich (Illustrator)
ISBN-10: 0966289218
Review by Heather Froeschl


"A piece of paper has a special purpose as you will see. You are like this piece of paper, for you, too, have a special purpose." "Spread Your Wings and Fly" is a wonderful tool of exploration into an ancient art and into the self. An origami fold and tell, this book guides in simple steps and through story, to creating a flapping crane. But it does more than that.

This book touches on life's lessons and builds self esteem. How? By demonstration - the first fold makes a triangle from a square, by bringing the opposite points together. The author encourages "think of two of your good points and bring them together." In this gentle affirming way the reader/participant is learning not just a relaxing, satisfying art, but is learning about herself as well.

Mary Chloe Schoolcraft Saunders served for eleven years as an elementary school speech-language pathologist where she used origami to foster the development of speech. Fold and tell is a proven training method of this art but it also serves as a means of helping children to open up and communicate. My young daughter loves the book, the art and the process, as I am sure you will. The illustrations are beautiful and rich, while the diagrams are precise and clear. A wonderful addition to any educators, troop leaders or your own personal library.

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